tonker Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) We had a lovely Yew alongside the Rhyne in our front garden, Trunk about 22''-24'' across and about 20 feet tall. Unfortuanately, next door had a new heating oil tank put in which they bodged, and overnight a tankfull ran out and soaked into the ground. This made its way to the watercourse and everything stank of deisel. The Environment Agency put mats in the water to soak the stuff up which took ages, but as it floated they got rid most of it, they dug some ground out as well. Cost next door about £20 grand for the clean up. Ouch!!! Anyway a little while later the Yew started to die. Can't be sure it was the Deisel but I think it was. I'm not looking to blame anyone cos what's done is done, and can't bring the yew back, the reason for this post is I'd like to know what any of you would do with it? As someone said Yew wood was worth something, What are your views please? . Sorry pictures aren't better taken with phone, and in bright sunlight. the trees been dead about 4/5years now. Edited July 28, 2014 by tonker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onatangent Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 whittle yourself some bows.... Not the most sensible solution I know but all I keep hearing I should do with my yew tree..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 The Yew dying might not have been your neighbours fault.I was once told when i thought about planting one that sometimes they die for no good reason. However,if it has been poisoned by the heating oil then i think very little can be done as it would have absorbed the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Makes good fire wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 chop it down...log it ...put it undercover for 2 years then get yourself a wood lathe........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 I wouldn't mind betting that it was the heating oil that killed it. Nasty stuff that kerosene. Shame as it takes a very long time for a yew to reach that size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonker Posted July 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Beware though, yew dust is poisonous. Beautiful timber, but hard to work and hard to finish Thanks for that, I didn't know it was! Is that just the fine dust when sanding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Where a face mask if sanding or cutting, same as any hard wood but more so with yew. I'd chop it into log sized bits and season. Unless your any good at wood work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Its possible u may be able to sell it to a wood turnert/sculptor or a wood miller but there not worth fortunes. Possibly if ur lucky the money might pasy for the safe felling of the tree. Are u planning on dropping it ur self? Probably a tree of that size unles u know wot u doing could cause problems or go the wrong way and smash the heating tank. Just be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonker Posted July 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) Its possible u may be able to sell it to a wood turnert/sculptor or a wood miller but there not worth fortunes. Possibly if ur lucky the money might pasy for the safe felling of the tree. Are u planning on dropping it ur self? Probably a tree of that size unles u know wot u doing could cause problems or go the wrong way and smash the heating tank. Just be careful. Yes, I'll probably drop it myself, not the first I've done by a long way, but I'd be the first to admit I'm no tree surgeon. It grows out of a bank over the rhyne at a fair angle but it'll drop over onto an old withy bed if he'll let me. Nowhere near his tank if he won't then I'll take it down a bit at a time, and use a teleporter when it gets to the trunk. I bet it'll make the chainsaw chatter, as I think it'll be quite hard by now. Thanks for all the advice and suggestions guys P.S just had a look on the bay and the're asking stupid money for Yew. ( I know asking and getting is two different things) but if i got half that, It would be worth loads of dosh looking at the size of it. Better not count Chickens. ATB Steve Edited July 28, 2014 by tonker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overandunder2012 Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 i thought someone else had been nicked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 If you want to sell the bole for timber don't put a saw through it until a timber expert has seen it. What might look to the novice eye the obvious place to make a cut to divide the trunk into manageable lengths can ruin the value of the timber. If possible its best to fell the tree whole, de-limb it and leave the trunk intact for a buyer to inspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Don't forget yours is worth a lot more than others as it's already treated and will never rot. Be very good fire wood, just put a match to a log it'll light itself, with all the heating oil it's absorbed. try cutting a limb and smelling it. It's surprising how far stuff gets sucked up inside a tree. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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